Editorial Policy

What the Tools page is

The Tools page is a reading list, not a shop. It collects software, free services and trusted organizations that address common digital safety concerns, and it explains in plain language what each one does and who it tends to suit. Every link goes to the organization's own website. CyMEC does not sell these products, does not host downloads, and does not take payments from any company listed.

How resources are selected

A resource earns a place on the page when it is run by a recognizable organization, solves a specific problem families actually ask us about, and publishes enough public information for a non-technical person to understand what it does. Free and low-cost options are listed first within each category, because cost should not be the reason a family skips a basic safety step. If a free tool covers a need, we list it before a paid one.

We leave out anything we cannot verify, products whose only route to purchase is a marketplace listing, and categories aimed at problems better handled by the free guidance on this site, such as everyday Wi-Fi and router settings.

What we have and have not tested

To be direct about this: CyMEC has not run independent hands-on testing, benchmarking or lab review of the products listed. The descriptions summarize what each provider states publicly and what the product is designed to do. No listing implies that CyMEC has personally verified a product, and no listing is an endorsement of a company's wider conduct or business practices.

No commissions and no paid placement

CyMEC does not use affiliate links on this site and does not earn a commission when someone visits a listed organization or buys anything from it. No company has paid for placement, ranking or wording, and none has been offered the opportunity to do so. Listings are not sponsored, and the order within a category reflects how directly a tool answers a common question, not a commercial arrangement.

Features, availability and pricing change

Products change. Features are added or withdrawn, free tiers are reduced, prices move, and services are sometimes discontinued or sold. Everything on the Tools page is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it is written, and some details may be out of date by the time you read them. Always check the provider's own website for current features and pricing before you rely on a service or pay for anything.

CyMEC is not responsible for how a third party product performs, for changes that provider makes, or for any loss arising from its use. Any subscription you take out is between you and that company, under their terms.

Corrections and suggestions

If a listing is wrong, out of date, or no longer points to the right place, tell us and we will correct or remove it. If a tool you use is missing from the page, send it over as well. Suggestions from parents, carers, teachers and older adults are how this page stays current, and there is no charge or account needed to send one.

Who publishes this page

CyMEC is an independent family digital safety project based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The same standards in this policy apply to every resource we link to anywhere on the site.

Contact

If you have questions about our editorial standards, corrections, or published content, please contact us using our Contact Form.